The Hidden Workforce of AI: Unseen Labour and Exploitation in the Digital Economy
UPSC Relevance
Prelims: Science and Technology (Artificial Intelligence - AI, Machine Learning - ML, Large Language Models - LLMs); Indian Economy (Gig Economy, Outsourcing, Labour Issues); Social Justice.
Mains:
General Studies Paper 1 (Society): Effects of globalization on Indian society.
General Studies Paper 3 (S&T, Economy): Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life; Awareness in the fields of IT, Computers; Indian Economy and issues relating to employment; Inclusive growth.
General Studies Paper 4 (Ethics): Ethics and Human Interface; Corporate Governance; Ethical concerns and dilemmas in government and private institutions.
Key Highlights from the News
Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems are not self-sufficient; they rely on invisible human work.
Workers performing tasks like data annotation (data labeling) and content moderation can be described as "ghost workers."
Large tech companies in Silicon Valley outsource these jobs to developing countries like India, Kenya, and the Philippines for low wages.
These workers often face exploitative working conditions: low wages, long working hours, exposure to mentally taxing content, and lack of job security.
Often, these jobs are provided through intermediary digital platforms, which makes the labor chain lacking transparency and facilitates the exploitation of workers.
The article argues for strict laws and regulations not only in the digital content of AI companies but also in their labor supply chains.
COMMENTS